A loan is an arrangement where money is lent by one person (the lender) to another (the borrower); when money is lent in this manner, the debtor must abide by the repayment terms set by the creditor. Whilst just about anything, product or service can be lent out; the information below focuses on financial arrangements only. Loans are required to be paid back and this is normally within a period set at the commencement of the contract; this is usually in regular monthly installments.

When debts are repaid a charge is added to the sum owed called 'interest' which is how the lender can gain from the service he has provided. It is not uncommon for a company to have a policy where the interest is front-loaded and paid first; then the capital sum is paid afterwards. Others will repay the debt in equal installment with the interest as part of this amount.

The primary use of a financial institution is to arrange finance but they do have many more functions. Bank loans and credit are one way to increase a person's or company's money supply; although other money raising methods do exist.

A mortgage is a very common type of debt and the primary method used by individuals to purchase a house however with this type, the money advance can only be used for the purpose for which it was intended. The financial institution is given security however; in this case the title to the house, until the mortgage is paid off in full. With this type of loan, should the borrower fail to make payments on the loan or default, then the bank or other financial institution has the right to sell the property; to recover sums owing to them, they may place it an auction.

Even small loans can be secured but this generally only happens when a person has a poor credit history which could be the case of a person buying a car; in much the same way as a mortgage is secured by the house itself. The duration of the loan period is often considerably shorter, usually corresponding to the useful life of the car; usually lasting no more than 5 years, maximum.

Unsecured loans are available from financial institutions under many different guises or marketing packages; credit cards, bank overdrafts and other forms of finance all fall into this category. The interest rates applicable to these different forms may vary depending on the lender, the borrower and the type of credit supplied.

In some countries, predatory lenders are called loan sharks and it is where they supply money at high interest rates with the sole intention of gaining control over a person. Credit card companies in many countries are often accused of a similar practice where they lend money at very high interest rates and make money out of frivolous extra charges. Try to remember what has been written here and you might not have too many problems.